NICHOLAS CHRISTIAN
WOMEN taking hormone replacement therapy do not increase their risk of breast cancer, a study will claim this week.
The study of 11,000 women finds that those taking oestrogen-only HRT are at no greater risk of developing tumours than other women.
The research comes only months after thousands of British women stopped taking the therapy when it was linked to cancer. One study suggested it increased the risk by as much as 30%.
The new study, while playing down the risk of cancer, does say there are risks associated with the therapy. In particular, it warns of a significantly higher chance of suffering a stroke.
About 1.7 million women in Britain take HRT to relieve the symptoms of the menopause, which include hot flushes, and night sweats. Other women say the treatment restores lost self-confidence.
Doctors said last night the findings of the study should force the Committee on Safety of Medicines to reviews its decision to warn doctors not to use HRT to treat the brittle bone condition osteoporosis.
The Department of Health said it would consider the survey and decide whether to update its advice.
